Cat Zingano ready for tough test against Miesha Tate

UFC bantamweight Cat Zingano has never been afraid of a challenge and won’t be starting this weekend when she faces former Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate at the Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Though Zingano understands Tate is extremely talented and one of the top women in MMA, the unbeaten 30-year old knows she’s no slouch either and is confident in her ability to deal with anything “Cupcake” throws at her tomorrow night.

“If you don’t want to quit at least once in every practice, you’re not working hard enough,” said Zingano in an interview with the UFC’s website when asked about toughness. “Everything good in life so far for me have not come from things being easy, and that’s something that I expect from everything I apply myself to that I care about. This is just another dynamic of that.”

In addition to the inherent difficulty of beating a game opponent, Zingano has to deal with the extra pressure of a title-shot and TUF 18 coaching opportunity not to mention the event being the biggest stage she’s fought on. However, Zingano isn’t intimidated by any of the involved factors, knowing she should never be afraid of chasing her dreams.

“I’ve been coaching and cornering fighters for the last five years, so I know what I have to offer, I know where I can bring fighters to, and I know that I have the mind game, the physical game, and the emotional part all covered for these fighters, and I’m really looking forward to get in their head. But that will not happen unless I get through this big fight, and that’s really what I’ve got my focus on right now,” explained Zingano. “I’d love the opportunity, I can’t believe that’s what’s in my hands…at the end of it I potentially get to fight Ronda Rousey and that’s what I’ve been dying for this entire time. So it’s great. I want to be a world champion, but I’m here to take the steps to get there first.”

Zingano is 7-0 in her career with six stoppages and wins over the likes of Barb Honchak, Carina Damm, and Takayo Hashi.